The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-12-15
ABOUT ENGLISH STATESMEN
A Glimpse of Them as They Are Seen
by an Entertaining English Lecturer.
Personal characteristics of Men About Whom
Americans Read a Great Deal-Mr. Glad
stones Work in Behalf of Ireland.

DR.. w. III. S. Aubrey, who lectured on "Iliv-
ing English Statesmen at Plymouth Church,
last evening. is a peculiar looking man. His
head is large for mis- body, and its size is appar-
emily much increased by circumambent
growth of whiskers and hair, as one views him
from the front or back His forehead is high
and retreating his shoulders rounded, his head
SET we'll forward When quiet he is not prepos-
sessing, but he talks WE'LL and he talks his
looks improve He is no orator, and does not
try to be one. but he is delightful converse
tionaist on the rostrum. He impresses one as
well-bred and intelligent.
Beginning his lecture with the party in power,
he pictured the Marquis of Salisbury arts
tocrat of the old school who has the misfortune
to live about three hundred years too late. He
never forgets that he is the Marquis of Sails
bury, and never permits you to do so. He is
learned and intelligent, but not approachable.
MIR. Disraeli, his colleague and party friend,
described him "a master of fouts, and filings,
and sneers." When younger, and known as Lord
Robert Cecil, he supported himself by his pen.
His writings, like his speech, acrimonious.
He wounds and leaves gall IN the wound. He
has few personal friends. Personally he is of
medium height. almost bald. and with a copi-
GUS wealth of beard. He has the stoop of
student. He is not orator. but he speaks
we'll and has strong way of putting his case.
He is looked up to by his party for his learning
and his high position.
The present government of England holds the
unusual position of ruling the country without
a majority in the House of Commons The
called majority is combination of Tories and
dissenting Liberals. OF this government Mr..
<ba %be ~
ablest member. He is of Jewish German de-
scent. but member of the Established Church.
He is fnancier by training, and some time
since wrote book foreign loans which is
pronounced the master work on the topic,
Though" said Mr.. Aubrey, II have never seen
anv one who has read it. or who understands it"
He was brought into politics by Mr.. Gladstone,
but left the Liberals the question of the ex-
tension of the suffrage. He speaks well. and is
always listened to with respect in the House.
Lord Cranoorne is a gentleman raised from
the common world to the nobility and like many
others similarly pitch forked into the House of
Lords. has been heard of but little since.
The government leader in the House is Mr..
w. Fl. Smith, who has no special qualifications
except business ability. He was picked up by
Mr.. Disraeli on account of his executive ability
in managing a news agency. and made'whip of
the House. He has worked his way and is
now First Lord OF the Treasury and leader of the
House He is very pleasant personally, and
though everyone laughs at him everyone likes
him.
but has not been much before the public of late
on account of trouble with his eyes. If he re-
covers he will be heard of hereafter.
Mr. Balfour the present Secretary for Ireland,
is attracting much attention. II do not believe
in his plans" said the speaker. ''but must
cede his ability" He is a nephew of Lord Sails
bury, and supposed to be appointed for
that cause, but he has justified the appointment.
He is very tall and thin. and has the peculiar
habit of sitting the small of his back. He
has peculiar, insouciant way of drawing out
his bitter words that makes his opponents wild.
The Parnelites much annoyed by him, and
particularly by his peculiar manner of sitting
The man most talked of in the Tory party is
Lord Randolph Churchhill. He is not particu-
larry short, but is extremely thin. You
scarcely see him when you view him from the
side He is peculiar. He came to Parliament
from the little rotten borough of Woodstock, 4
saying little but observing much. He brought
himself forward by crticsing his own party and 3
forced his recognition on the organization of the
Tory Cabinet Secretary of State for India
and later as Chancellor of the Exchequer and
resigned. expecting TO De asked to withdraw his
resignation. but he was not II believe" said
Mr.. Aubrey, ''he is liable to become violent
Radical before he closes his career"
Between the Tories and the Liberals there are
several independent men of ability. among
whom are the Earl of Derby. the Marquis of
Harrington. Mr.. Chamberlain and Mr. John
Bright. The greatest of these is Mr.. Bright,
who has made record of conscientious adher- q
erce to the of liberty and progress.
Throughout his course he has always held to his
Quaker faith and Quaker fashions. His present Z
position outside of the Liberal party is unques
tionably due to a sickness had some ten years
ago. He is now seventy six years Of age, and
seldom attends Parliament
The leader of the Irish national party. Dir.
Parnell, is cold, dspassionate, cautious man.
what the party is IL owes to him. Mr. Glad
stone said of him, He is one of the few men in
Parliament who have learned to say just what
they wish to say-no more Mr. Sexton is the
orator of the party.
Next to Mr. Gladstone Sir William Harcourt
is the principal figure of the Liberal party. He
is TALL strong man. able in debate, but strik-
his opponent feels rather honored by the blow.
John Morley, the distinguished writer. perhaps
ranks next. Earl Spencer. former Lord-lieu-
tenant of Ireland, is man of great executive
ability. Lord Rosebery is Liberal statesman,
of whom much will probably be heard in future
years He married daughter of one of the
Rothschilds, and is of the wealthies5 and
most amiabs of the younger nobility.
Or course, Mr. Gladstone is the prominent
figure in the party. He started out as Tory,
Italy in conferences with the patriots then i'm
prisoned there by the tyranny of King Bomba.
He IS now seventy-seven years of age, but in
cellent health. His head is extraordinarily
long believed that the Irish question would be
settled substantially on the lines laid down by
him last year. HE said to only two days
before left England" the speaker said that
that if the Tory party would bring in bill con-
formable to Justice he would Loyalty support it.
Mr.. Gladstones position is that ireland has
clearly and unmisrakaby indicated her desire
give it to her. It is too late-two hundred
years to late-to rule Ireland by the sword and
the club. There ls rising feeling in England in
favor of changing the irish policy and treating
her kindly and generously. The Irish people
know this. and that is the principal reason why
Ireland lS quiet. There ia less polificaI